Well packer



y 1953 A. s. PARKS 2,638,168

' WELL PACKER Filed July 51, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l Asbu r5 5. Pa r-l 5Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL PACKEB,

Asbury S. Parks, Houston, Tex.

Application July 31, 1948, Serial No. 41,810

' 8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well packers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved well packer whichis particularly adapted for use in well cementing operations wherein itis necessary to pack ofi the annular space between the well casing andthe tubing or pipe through which the cement is introduced, said packerbeing constructed so as to be readily set at any desired position andalso bein easily removed after the cementing operation is complete.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved wellpacker wherein the supporting slips which anchor said packer in the wellpipe are actuated by a hydraulic means so that said slips may bepositively expanded or retracted at any time without the necessity ofemploying a telescoping mechanical means, such as co-acting taperedsurface, whereby the inherent disadvantages of such mechanical means areeliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved well packerwherein the hydraulic means which actuates the anchoring slips iscontrolled by the Weight imposed on the well pipe or tubing so thatefficient gripping of said slips is assured.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved wellpacker having an elastic packing element which is adapted to be expandedand contracted by a hydraulic means, which means is controlled from thesurface whereby said packing element may be expanded into sealingposition at any selected or predetermined point and also whereby therequired pressure necessary to maintain the packing element in sealingposition may be applied to said element; the use of a hydraulic meansfor operating the packing element also assuring positive retraction ofthe element when the packer assembly is to be removed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved wellpacker, of the character described, wherein the anchoring means, as wellas the elastic packing element, are adapted to be operated by a singlehydraulic means which means is controlled by the weight imposed on thewell pipe or tubing on which the well packer is mounted, whereby theanchoring means and packing element are moved into set position and arealso released from said set position when the device is to be removed byactuation of the single hydraulic means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved well packer,of the character described, having a sleeve-type elastic packing elementwhich is arranged to be expanded into sealin position by internalpressure and which has a deformable or elastic extension portion adaptedto co-act with an anchoring means, whereby the same pressure which mayfunction to expand the packing element into sealing position also actsto actuate or move the anchoring means into locking position. i

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing,

wherein an example of the invention is shown,

and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a well packer, constructed in accordancewith the invention and showing the same being lowered through a wellFigure 2 is a similar view, illustrating the packer in its set positionwithin the pipe,

Figure 3 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view, of theupper portion of the device,

Figure 4 is a continuation of Figure 3, illustrating the lower portionof the device,

Figure 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 3, a

Figure 6 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 4, and

Figure 7 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line ofFigure 4.

In the drawings, the numeral ill designates a tubular mandrel having anaxial bore I I extending entirely therethrough. The intermediate portionof the mandrel is splined to form a plu rality of longitudinal groovesor passages l2 and the extreme lower end of the mandrel is connected toan enlarged supporting collar [3,. An annular elastic packing element Asurrounds the lower portion of the mandrel and has its lower end restingupon the supporting collar 13. The packing element is formed with anupwardly extending tubular extension or sleeve B which is made integralwith the element and which also surrounds the mandrel. It is noted thatthe packing element A and its extension 13 surround the lower portion ofthe mandrel below the longitudinal passages or grooves l2 which areformed in the intermediate portion of the mandrel. The packing element Aand its extension 13 are provided with a bore 14 which is slightlylarger in diameter than the external diameter of the :mandrel whereby arelatively small annular space is formed between these parts.

An anchoring means in the form of a plurality of segmental slips l aremounted exteriorly of the elastic extension or sleeve B and are formedwith gripping teeth is on their ex" ternal surface. Each slip is mountedwithin. a radial slot or opening H, which openings are formed within ametallic retaining sleeve or casing it. The casing to surrounds theextension B and has its lower end supported upon the external shoulderit which is formed at the intersection of the packing element A and saidextension B. The slips are capable of radial movement outwardly withintheir respective slots I! and are confined when the device is not inuse, against complete displacement therefrom by fiat retaining bars orsprings Ell which overhang the upper and lower ends of said slips. Theupper end of the bore 2! of the retaining casing or sleeve 1 3 isenlarged and internally screw threaded, whereby said casing may threadonto the lower end. of a coupling joint 23. A suitable packing ring 2tpacks on the threaded connectionv between the casing and the coupling.

The upper end of the coupling joint 23 is connected by threads to thelower end of a tubular body 25 with a suitable seal being efiected atthe threaded joint by a packing ring The coupling 23 is also connectedat its upper lower ends to the mandrel l 9, preferably by suitable welds23b. The tubular body has an axial bore 21 extending entirelytherethrough and the diameter of this bore is considerably larger thanthe external diameter of th mandrel iii. The coupling 23 which connectsthe tubular body with the lower portion of the assembly is disposed op--posite the longitudinal grooves or passages I2 in the mandrel wherebyflow passages are formed between the bore 23a. of the coupling and theexterior surface of the mandrel. The space between the Wall of the bore21 of the tubular housing and the longitudinal. passages. l2 which havetheir upper ends communicating therewith form a hydraulic fluid chamberC; the lower end of this chamber, that is, the lower ends of passagesI2, communicate with the bore I 4 of the packing element A and itsextension sleeve B. Fluid. is. introduced into the chamber C through asuitable filling plug 28 which is threaded within a radial openingformed in. the tubular housing.

The upper portion of the tubular housing is formed with an invertedJ-slot 29 which is adapted to be engaged by a trunnion or pin. 36 whichextends radially outwardly from a tubular or sleeve-like piston member3!. The upper end of the piston member is connected by suitable threadsto a well pipe or tubing 32. It will be obvious that when the connectingtrunnion or pin 30 is in the horizontal portion 23a of the invertedJ-sl'ot 29, the tubular body 25 is sus pended from the piston member 3iand from the well pipe 32 to which said piston member is attached. Thetubular housing Al is connected through the coupling 23, slip and packerassembly and supporting collar [3 with the mandrel 10, whereby all ofthese parts are supported by the. well pipe.

The lower portion of the piston member 3! is disposed within and closesthe upper end of the chamber C which is formed by the space between thebore 2? of the housing and the external surface of the mandrel ill.Suitable packing or piston rings 33 are mounted on the exterior surfaceof the piston member 3i and pack off between said member and the bore Elof the housing. Similar packing rings 35 are mounted in the externalsurface of the upper portion of the mandrel and seal off between themandrel and the piston member. It will be apparent that with fluidwithin the chamber C, a downward movement of the piston member 3! withrespect to the mandrel and housing will apply a pressure to the fluidand this inturn will apply an internal pressure to the bore it of theelastic extension or sleeve B the packing element A.

The external surface of the housing 35 is formed with a plurality ofelongate recesses 35 within which curved friction springs 36 aremounted. The friction springs are secured to the housing at their upperends by suitable rivets 3? or other fastening means.

The device is particularly adapted for use in well cementing operationsand, if desired, a ball check valve 38 may be mounted within the bore53a of the supporting collar. A transverse retaining pin 39 prevents theball from falling downwardly from said bore and upon upward movement,the ball may be arranged to engage an annular seat ill provided at thelower end of the. mandrel. A ball check will function to close the boreof the mandrel upon lowering of the device within a well bore but aspointed out, this ball check is not essential and may be eliminated, inwhich event any fluid within the well bore would by-pass through themandrel, as well as around the assembly.

In the operation or the device in well cementing, the tubular housing 25is connected to and supported by the well pipe or tubing 32 through theconnection between the trunnion 3t and the horizontal leg 29a of theinverted J-slot 2.9. This supports the entire assembly from the wellpipe whereby it may be lowered through the well casing D with the partsin the position illustrated in Figure 1. In this position the chamber Cis filled with a hydraulic fluid and the piston member 53! is in theupper end of said chamber with substantially no pressure being appliedto the packing element A and its tubular extension or sleeve B. Thesegmental slips it are in a retracted position and as the assembly islowered, the friction springs 36 maintain a frictional en-. gagementwith the bore of the well casing When the position at which the packeris to be set is reached, the well pipe 32 is raised slightly and rotatedso as to move the trunnion or pin into alignment with the vertical legof the J-slot and at this time the friction springs function to restrainthe housing against rotation. The well pipe or tubing, as well as itsconnected piston member 3! may then move downwardly with respect to themandrel iii and housing 2%, the friction springs tending to hold saidhousing and mandrel in a stationary position. As soon as there is arelative movement between the piston member 3! and the mandrel, apressure is applied to the fluid within the chamber C and this pressureis transmitted to the tubular extension or sleeve B, whereby said sleeveis urged out wardly to move the slips l5 outwardly into engagement withthe casing wall. Because the tubular extension or sleeve has aconsiderably less wall thickness than the packing element A, the initialapplication of pressure will deform said sleeve or extension first withthe result that the slips iii will be engaged with the wall before thereis any appreciable distortion or deformation oi the packing element A.

Following engagement of the slips with the casing wall, the housing ispositively locked against any further downward movement within saidcasing and the imposition of additional weight upon the well pipe ortubing 32 will move the piston member 3! a further distance downwardlyinto the chamber C. This will result-in an additional application offluid pressure within the bore I 4 of the packing element A, wherebysaid packing element is deformed or forced radially outwardly intopacking position, as illustrated in Figure 2. By maintaining the desiredweight on the well pipe or tubing, the packing may be maintained in itssealing engagement with the wall of the well casing.

The cement slurry may then be pumped downwardly in the usual mannerthrough the well pipe and through the tubular mandrel l0 and will escapeoutwardly through the lower end of said mandrel. If the check valve 38is employed, it will be evident that said valve will be unseated,dropping onto the retaining pin 39, to permit the slurry to escapeifromthe lower end of the mandrel. Obviously the weight imposed upon the wellpipe or tubing which controls the amount of internal pressure applied tothe packing element A will be greater than the pressure under which thecement is introduced, whereby a positive ,seal of the packer to preventthe cement from passing upwardly around the device is assured.

After the cementing operation is complete, it is only necessary to liftthe well pipe or tubing 32 to lift the piston member 3! to its upperposition within the chamber C. This relieves the application of internalpressure within the packing element A and within its extension or sleeveB, whereby said packing member as well as the slips may be returned totheir initial retracted position. Because both the packing element andthe gripping slips are held in their outer positions by internalpressure, the relief of such pressure will permit them to readilyretract. The packing element and its extension are constructed ofrubber, rubber compound or other elastic material which will upon therelease of pressure return to its original position. With thisarrangement there is no danger of the packing element or the slipsremaining in their outer or engaged positions when removal of theassembly is to be accomplished. Obviously a straight upward pull on thepipe will first release the pressure to retract the packer and slips anda continued upward movement will remove the device from the well bore.

Although the packer has been described as particularly adapted for usein cementing operations, it is obvious that it may be employed as anordinary well packer in many other instances. The particular feature ofthe invention resides in controlling the actuation of the device by thewell pipe or tubing which is utilized to lower and raise the assemblywithin the well bore.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A well packer adapted to be lowered on a well pipe within a wellcasing including, a mandrel having a connection with said well pipewhich connection is movable into a first position preventing relativelongitudinal movement of the pipe with respect to the mandrel and ismovable into a second position permitting longitudinal movement of thepipe relative to the mandrel; anchoring means carried by the mandrelandarranged to be moved outwardly into engagement with the well casingfor locking the mandrel against movement within the casing, an annularelastic packing element mounted on the mandrel and adapted to be movedradially outwardly into sealing engagement With the well casing, ahydraulic fluid chamber communicating with the interior of the packingelement, hydraulic fluid in said chamber and pistonmeans havingconnection with the well pipe and moved within the chamber by theimposition of weight upon the wellpipe when the connection between thepipe and mandrel is in its second position allowing longitudinalmovement of the pipe with respect to the mandrel for applying pressureto the fluid within said chamber to apply an internal pressure to thepacking element to thereby move the same radially outwardly into sealingengagement with the well casing.

2. A well packer as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hydraulic chamberalso communicates with the anchoring means, whereby the application ofpressure to the hydraulic fluid also actuates said anchoring means tomove the same outwardly into locking engagement with the well casing.

3. A well packer adapted to be lowered on a well pipe within a wellcasing including, a mandrel having a telescoping connection with thewell pipe, an annular elastic packing element mounted on said mandreland arranged to be expanded radially outwardly into sealing positionwith the well casing, a hydraulic fluid chamber having communicationwith the interior of the packing element, and a piston closing the upperend of the chamber and connected to the well. pipe, whereby when saidpipe is moved relative to the mandrel, a pressure is applied to thefluid within the chamber to apply an internal pressure to the packingelement to expand the same radially outwardly into sealing engagementwith the well casing.

4. A well packer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said hydraulic fluidchamber also communicates with the anchoring means, whereby applicationof pressure to the fluid in said chamber also functions to actuate saidanchoring means to move the same into locking position.

5. A well packer adapted to be lowered on. a well pipe within a wellcasing including, a tubular mandrel having a telescoping connection withthe well pipe, an elastic packing element surrounding the mandrel andhaving an upwardly extending extension, anchoring means surrounding theextension of said packing element, whereby the application of aninternal fluid pressure to the element functions to expand the elementradially outwardly to move the anchoring means into locking engagementwith the well casing and to expand the packing element into sealingcontact with the well casing, a fluid chamber mounted on the mandrelabove the packing element and having its lower end communicating withthe interior of said element, hydraulic fluid within the chamber, and apiston connected with the well pipe closing the upper end of saidchamber, whereby downward movement of the well pipe with respect to themandrel applies an internal pressure to the packing element to actuatethe anchoring means and to expand said packing element into sealingposition.

6. A well packer as set forth in claim 5, wherein the well pipe isconnected to the mandrel by means of a J-slot and pin, whereby rotationof said pipe with respect to the mandrel releases the pipe for slidingmovement-With respect to the mandrel, and friction means carried by themandrel and engagingthe well casing for frictionallv restraining themandrel from rotation to allow release of the well pipe for telescopingmovement with respect to the mandrel.

'7'. A well packer adapted to be lowered on a well pipe within a wellcasing including, a mandrel detachably connected with said well pipe, ananchoring assembly carried by the mandrel and having anchoring meansarranged to be moved outwardly into engagement with the well casing forlocking themandrel against movement within the casing, an annularelastic packing element mounted. on the mandrel and adapted to be movedradially outwardly into sealing engagement with the well casing, saidanchoring assembly having a fluid chamber communicating with the bore ofthe packer, hydraulic fluid Within the chamber, and piston meansconnected with the pipe and having a portion thereof disposed within thefluid chamber, said last named means applying pressure to the hydraulicfluid when the well pipe and. means is detached from the mandrel andmoved longitudinally with respect to the mandrel and anchoring assembly.

8. A well packer adapted to be lowered on a well pipe within a wellcasing including, a tu- 2 bular, mandrel having a telescoping connectionwith the well pipe, an elastic packing element surrounding the mandreland having an. upwardly extending extension, anchoring means surroundingthe extensionof said packing. element, whereby the application of aninternal pressure to the element functions to expand the elementradially outwardly to move the anchor ing means into locking engagementwith the Well! casing and to expand the packing element into sealingcontact with the well casing, a fluid chamber having communication withthe bore of the packing element, hydraulic fluid within the chamber,and' means connected with the well, pipe and having a portion thereofmovable Within the" chamber, whereby downward movement. of the well pipewith respect to the mandrel applies arr internal pressure to the packingelement to actuate the anchoring means and to expand said packingelement into sea-ling, position.

ASBURY S. PARKS.

References Cited in. the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 2,178,844 Baker Nov.. 7', 1933 2,370,832 Baker Mar.6,,11945 2,373,005 Baker Apr. 3, I945

